Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
#1
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Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
Has anyone ever noticed this?
It seems like every time someone parks a pick-up truck they have to back it into the spot. Is there some kind of practical reason for this? It can't be because it makes it easier to drive forward out (which I will concede, it does) but it takes a whole lot more effort to back it into the spot in the first place than it ever would to back it out.
Is it some ego thing? They're a big tough man who drives a big tough truck and they must show they can back into any spot?
I'm starting to notice this practice everywhere I go and its sort of become a pet peeve of mine.
If you haven't noticed this, go to your local mall or shopping center, observe the parking lot, and tell me I'm wrong.
It seems like every time someone parks a pick-up truck they have to back it into the spot. Is there some kind of practical reason for this? It can't be because it makes it easier to drive forward out (which I will concede, it does) but it takes a whole lot more effort to back it into the spot in the first place than it ever would to back it out.
Is it some ego thing? They're a big tough man who drives a big tough truck and they must show they can back into any spot?
I'm starting to notice this practice everywhere I go and its sort of become a pet peeve of mine.
If you haven't noticed this, go to your local mall or shopping center, observe the parking lot, and tell me I'm wrong.
#2
Premium Member
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
It's easier to back into an empty space than back out into traffic? 
I haven't really noticed it, though.

I haven't really noticed it, though.
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I've noticed it but didn't think much of it. There are quite a few pickups where I live and most of them are backed-in.
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#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I drive a car but when I go to work in the morning I back into a spot. I forget where I heard it (I think it was a movie) but I remember hearing one time that after a hard, shity day at work just the fact you don't have to back out of a spot can perk you up.
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Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I thought I was the only weirdo with this pet peeve. 
Personally, I don't get it either, and it's not only pickups but SUVs and mini-vans, especially in the parking lots of the wholesale clubs. If they're buying small quantities of items, yeah ok, not an issue. But when they're buying shopping carts full of stuff, it requires more effort to load stuff into your vehicle. And sometimes you get people who try to squeeze the cart in between the cars and bang up the adjacent car in the process. That's what ticks me off.

Personally, I don't get it either, and it's not only pickups but SUVs and mini-vans, especially in the parking lots of the wholesale clubs. If they're buying small quantities of items, yeah ok, not an issue. But when they're buying shopping carts full of stuff, it requires more effort to load stuff into your vehicle. And sometimes you get people who try to squeeze the cart in between the cars and bang up the adjacent car in the process. That's what ticks me off.

#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
Backing in is fine, the j-holes that pull through to an open spot and have no idea how big their vehicle is bug me much more.
#10
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Thread Starter
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
How is it easier to back in between two parked cars than it is to back out between nothing?
That's logical. However it still doesn't make sense why people do it at places like the store or the movie theater.
Finally, someone else who feels my pain.
I mentioned this to my girlfriend last night while we were out and all I got was a giggle and a little shrug! She didn't care.
I thought I was the only weirdo with this pet peeve. 
Personally, I don't get it either, and it's not only pickups but SUVs and mini-vans, especially in the parking lots of the wholesale clubs. If they're buying small quantities of items, yeah ok, not an issue. But when they're buying shopping carts full of stuff, it requires more effort to load stuff into your vehicle. And sometimes you get people who try to squeeze the cart in between the cars and bang up the adjacent car in the process. That's what ticks me off.

Personally, I don't get it either, and it's not only pickups but SUVs and mini-vans, especially in the parking lots of the wholesale clubs. If they're buying small quantities of items, yeah ok, not an issue. But when they're buying shopping carts full of stuff, it requires more effort to load stuff into your vehicle. And sometimes you get people who try to squeeze the cart in between the cars and bang up the adjacent car in the process. That's what ticks me off.

I mentioned this to my girlfriend last night while we were out and all I got was a giggle and a little shrug! She didn't care.
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
My neighbor does it and sucks at it. I'm supposed to have two parking spaces in front of my house, but because he can't park in between the lines I end up with 1.5 spaces instead. Granted, I only need the one, but I'm one of those people who get hung up on principles.
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#15
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
Its easier to back between two stationary objects, then to back in to a place where there are (possibly)moving objects. The legnth of the truck makes it harder to back out of a space
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Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I've got another pet peeve that probably doesn't bother anyone else but me. In double row parking spaces where most of the spaces are filled, if the column on both rows are empty, it annoys me when a car enters the space from the top and parks his car at the bottom of the row just when I'm trying to pull into the space at the bottom. 
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#17
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I don't drive a truck, but I always back in, easy to pull out and leave at the end of the day, and if you need a tow truck they wont damage the front end of a car if you need a tow. My sweetie drives a truck and does the same.
#18
Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I don't understand the physics behind it, but I've been told that it ACTUALLY is easier to back a vehicle into a parking space- you're supposed to be able to get a better angle backing in and you need less space around you to do it. For example, if you're in a tight row of parking spots, you would be able to back into a spot more easily than going front in, and also easier to pull out driving forward than to back out of the spot. I know it doesn't seem to make sense, but go visit other countries where EVERYONE backs into a spot (Asia, some European countries) and ask people why, and they will say that is the only logical way to do it. Provided of course you're good at it.... and I've seen some really skillful people back into a tight spot like it was nothing.
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#21
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Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I always refer to this as douchebagging it in. Once, my wife and I watched someone take 2 minutes to park like that.
#22
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Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
I mean, obviously I don't notice the trucks who back in swiftly and efficiently because...well, people doing things competently doesn't really stand out in my mind.
I do think it's kind of hysterical when a truck backs in to save time/because it's easier/whatever, but they pull in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out, spending what seems like two or three minutes to squeeze themselves in there. What they gain from doing that (well, experience, I guess?), I have no idea.
#23
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Re: Why do pick-up truck drivers insist on backing into every parking space?
Safety practices say back in because you can see what is there when you get there. The situation changes as you leave and you can't control that. Why you are noticing this with trucks, I don't know. Safer to back in and pull out.